Universal joint



Nov. 1, 1.932. A. A. WARNER 1,885,646

UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed March 25, 1931 III /l L E z, 5 I A INVENT E E I fire/3741a 9; War/ken ATTORNEYS- Patented Nov. 1, 1932 i AnciiiBALn A. WARNER, or; never. AK,R'1VIIGHIGAN- nnivnnsii'n JOINT 'lpplication filed March 23, 1931 ean 110.524.4 47.

This invention relates to improved means for lubricating bearings of a; universal joint of the type shown in'my co-pending applications, Serial Nos. 524,445 and 524,446, filed on March 23', 1982.

The mainlobjects of this invention are to provide improved bearings between the trunnions of the driving and driven members of a universal joint, and the torque ring by which they are connected together; to provide means of this kind which are adapted to retain a substantially large supplyof lubricant; to provide a separable member having lubricant containing chambers thatcommunicate with the inner end of the bearings and which may be filled with lubricant prior to assembly of the bearings; and to provide a casing which completely encloses the lubricant showing a lubricant retaining element of my improved universal joint bearlng in detail.

Fig. is afragmentary sectional view of a universal joint showing a trunnionwhich is provided with a'bearing that embodies another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a trunnion on which is journaled a hearing that embodies a further development of the invention. f

In the forms shown in Figs. 1' to 4, inclusive, of the drawing, the invention: is illustrated in conjunction with a universal joint which includes a rotatable yoke-shaped torquetransmitting member 1 having divergingarms 2 and?) between which is receivable anend portion 4 of a rotatable torque transmitting element 5.

r The outerend portion of the element 5' is cylindrical in shape and it is provided'with a central recess- 6 and an outwardly ex 'tendin'g radial'flan'ge 7 by which it may be convenient'lysecur'ed to a flange 8;of a sp lin'e'd collar 9, by bolts 10.- The splined collar is adapted tor'eceivean end portion ofa drive. shaft (not shown) to which it may be rigidly attached by a nut 11 that is housed in the recess 6.

Integrally formed on the arms 2 and 3' of the yoke of the member 1 are trunnions 12f which have enlarged base portions. The or- 'tion'4 of tfhe-inenilter 5 is.prgwid-e'd with a transverse passage 13- through-whiclra pin 7 14 extends". The pin 1 4 fits tightly in the passagej13 and protrudes at its respectively opposite endsbeyond the side edges of: the portion 4 so as" to provide spaced trunnions 15 at the respectively opposite" sides of the memher 5 lhe trunnions12 and 15- are located substantially 90- degrees apart and their center axes preferably intersect.

These'trunnions are connected together by torque rings which include complementary sections 16 and1 7, each having fourre istering semi-cylindrical depressions or sockets 18 and 19 respectively.- The sections 16' ajnd17 of the torque ring are rigidly fixed together by bolts 20 which extend through registering apertures those portions of the ring sections that are located between the depressions 18 and 19 The complementary registering recesseszl 'and 19 form four complete cylindrical sockets which are each located substantially degrees apart. I Mounted on the trunnions-of the universal joint are bearingswhich substantially identical inconstruction. Ea=ch bearingi-ncludes a cup shaped caSingZihaVin'g-a cylin vdrical side portion'22 which fits intoithe'soclret I 7 formed by the complementary depressions 18 and 19' of the torque ring section's. 'llhe'open endypo-rtionof-the casing 2 1 has an outwardly offset ski-rt 23-and an adj aficentra'd-ia'l shoulder 24 upon which the .socket'ris seated. The casingfQl is concentrically mounted on the trunnion 12' with its cylindrical side wall 22 in spaced" relation tothe periphery of the trunnion and a disc 25, preferably comprising bearingm'et'al, located between the inner side of the end wa1126 of the casing and the end 7 extremity of the trunnion. The joint as whole is centered by the ends of the trunnlons v abutting against their respective discs '25. .7

A bushing 27, comprising bearing material is journaled on the trunnion 12 and. is held against rotation relative to the casing by a concentric sleeve 28 whichtightly fits between 3lthat are concentric with the trunnions.

Mountediin the enlarged open end of the casing 21whichis surrounded by the offset skirt 23 is a sheet metal sleeve 32 which has.

the outer periphery of the bushin'g'and the inner periphery ;of the casin g 21'. Formed in the outer periphery of thesleeve28 are substantially semi-cylindrical grooves. or lu-tj bricant containing chambers 29 whichextend axially of the sleeve from one end tothe-otherend thereof. The grooves 29 register at their inner extremities With' radial grooves' 30 h which communicate with: theinterior of the casing 21 "at its inner. extremmyi The open sides of. the axial grooves 29 are sealed by the inner periphery of the casing 21. .The extremities of the outwardly offset skirt 23 of the bearing casings on the trunnions of the members 1 and 2, respectively, register with substantially planular surfaces on the driving and driven'meinbers in which are formed circular channel-ways or-grooves ing. lLocated betweenthecsleeve 32 and the lubricant.

base portion of the trunnion l2isapacking ring 35, preferably comprising cork or other suitable yieldable material, which aids in sealing the open end of the bearing against the admission of dirt and the leakage of 'i In assembling a universal joint of this kind the lubricant containing groove 29 of the sleeve 28 is filled with greaseor other suitable lubricant which may be packed into the groove before the sleeveis inserted into the 'casing, or introduced thereintoafter the bearing is assembled through the open outer ends of the groove in any suitable manner.

During rotation of the universalrjoint the lubricant which is thrownioutwardlyby centrifugal'force enters the radial passages 30 inthe inner, end of the sleeve 28fand flows into the interior of the casingfsubstantially at the inner extremity 'of' the bushing" 27.

The freeend of the trunnion is chamfered,

as illustrated at 36" in'FigJ 1,so as to provide an annular groove around the inner edge of the contacting surfaces of the trunnion and bushing for receiving the lu'bricant which .which is preferably formed ing aided flows from this groove between the contacting surfaces of the trunnion and bushing.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing is illustrated a bearing which includes a casing 21 that is substantially identical in construction to the casing 21 shown in Fig.1, and which is jour- Ilaled on a trunnion 12 of a yoke arm 2 of the torque transmitting member of a uni- ,versal joint. The casing 21 has-a cylindrical l portion 22 which is located within a cylindri'cal socket formed by complementary recessed portions 18 and 19 of a torque ring. The outer endof the casing is closed'by an 1 end wall 26 and the inner open end of the casing isbounded 'by an outwardly offset ,wall or skirt portion 23. J ournaled on the trunnion 12" is a bushing 27, preferably comprising bearing metal which is rigidly held against rotation relativeto the casing 21 by a sleeve 37 that fits tightlybetween' the outer periphery of the bushing and the inner periphery of the casing. Formed in the outer periphery of the sleeve 37 is a helical groove 38 which cornmunicates with the interior-of the easingiat'the freeend of the trunnion 12. I

A sheetmetal sleeve 32 inountedjin the en.

larged open end of the casing 21 hasan in.-

wardly. extending iiange 33 which terminates in closeproximity to the outer .pe-

rip heryofthe sleeve 37.; The outer 'edge' portions .of' the, sleeve 32 extend beyond the "end of the casing int ola groove 31 which is formed concentric with respect to the trunnion 12 in the side of. the yoke ar1n2.

Located between the sleeve 32 and 'the base portion of the trunnion is a packing'ring 3L5 of cork or other suitable yieldable material; 7

lubricant, which. is stored in the helical groove 38 worksoutwardlytoward the'outle t of the groove and passes into the interior of the casing around the inner edge portions of the contactingsurfaces of the tr mnion and bushing. The lubricant passes between and lubricates these surfaces, the action be- 7 by centrifugal force and capillary attraction. I Z Y c In the form ofthe. invention shown in Fig. 6,1the bearing includes a casing 39 havingla cylindrical side portion 40.0n which is provided an outwardly ,ofist wall or skirt 41.

The casing 39 is seatedupon a trunnion 42 and ithas a bearing plate 43 onthe inner side of its end wall 44which abuts against'the :free extremity of the trunnion. J ournaled on the trunnion,22,is a bushing45 which is to the casing a sleeve 46 that tightly-fits between'the held against relative rotation inner and outer peripheries of the casing 39 andthe bushing 45; I

V Circumferential grooves 47 are formed in the, outer periphery ofthe sleeve .46 for re- 7 taining asupply of lubricant These grooves During operation of the universal joint.

L L i are connected by an axial groove 48 which extends through the ridges that separate the adjacent circumferential grooves and which communicates with a radial slot 49 in the inner extremity of the sleeve. The radial slot 49 communicates with the interior of the casing at the free end of the trunnion 42 and supplies lubricant from the circumferential grooves 47 to the contacting surfaces of the trunnion and bushing.

Although several specific embodiments of this invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numer- .a bushing journaled on said trunnion and.

including an outer tubular member, and a sleeve between said bushing and said tubular member having lubricant containing grooves in its outer periphery communicating with the interior of said tubular member at the free extremity of said trunnion for feeding lubricant to the contacting surfaces of said trunnion and bushing, respectively.

3. In a universal joint, a rotatable mem-' ber including a trunnion, a bearing having a bushin journaled on saidtrunnion and including an outer tubular member, and a sleeve between said bushing and said tubular member having axial lubricant containing grooves in its outer periphery and having registering radial grooves in one extremity communicating with the interior of said tubular member at the free end of said trunnion.

4. In a universal joint, a rotatable mem ber including a trunnion, a bearing having a bushing journaled on said trunnion and including an outer tubular member, and a sleeve between said bushing and said tubular member having a helical lubricant containing groove in its outer periphery communicating with the interior of said tubular member at the free extremity of said trunnion.

5. In a universal joint, a rotatable member including a trunnion, a bearing having a bushing journaled on said trunnion and in cluding an outer tubular member, and a sleeve between said bushing and said tubular member having circumferential grooves in its outer periphery communicating with the interior of said tubular member at the free extremity of said trunnion. a

'6..In a universal joint, a rotatable member having a trunnion, a cup-shaped casing mounted on said trunnion having side walls spaced from the periphery thereof, and a sleeve in said casing having lubricant containing grooves in its outer periphery communicating with the interior of said casing,

periphery of said casing for securing the sleeve against rotation and for sealing the open. sides of said grooves.

7 In a universal joint, a rotatable member having a trunnion, a cup-shaped casing mounted on said trunnion having side walls spaced from the periphery thereof, and a sleeve in said casing having axial lubricant containing grooves in its outer periphery and registering radial grooves in its innerextremity communicating with the interior of said casing, the open sides of said axial grooves be- ;ing sealed by the inner periphery of said casing.

ARCHVIBALD A. WARNER.

said sleeve having a press fit with the inner 

